Frugal, except for vacations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a fine way to live but the sense of self-congratulation that goes with it is off-putting. There's no moral high ground in living in a shack and spending your money on a custom-designed safari. If it works for you that's great, but posts like the OP's are a bit smug for my liking.

...are you my coworker? The one who drives a new Mercedes SUV and carries a LV bag but spends every weekend and holiday at home watching tv because she's broke? I think it's the well-adjusted happy people who spend money on experiences... and the insecure depressed ones who spend on stuff to try and appear successful to others.

I don't spend money on stuff or vacations. I use money to save for the future, and to make every day special. Spend thousands a year on clothes, food, wine, having parties. That's what I like!

Dumb and backwards

[Anonymous]

That's how I live. I have a small apartment, not a lot of stuff, I move fairly often and love taking vacations to new places. For me, the experiences are worth so much more.

[Anonymous]

If your HHI is $300k, then you can obviously afford multiple nice vacations a year.

Here's a DCUM reality check:

Our HHI is $150k. We drive old cars that were purchased used at two or three years old. Public school. House is in the mid-600s. We actually live frugally (no newspaper subscription, no organics, no manicures, etc) whereas I bet the OP doesn't.

We go on beach vacations a handful of times each year (some local, some involving flights). We try to do long weekend trips at least a handful of times a year (mountains, lakes, cities). And we do a big trip (Disney, Caribbean, Europe) every 2-3 years.

Honestly, people piss away money so easily. It's not that hard to live well within your means and afford to travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your HHI is $300k, then you can obviously afford multiple nice vacations a year.

Here's a DCUM reality check:

Our HHI is $150k. We drive old cars that were purchased used at two or three years old. Public school. House is in the mid-600s. We actually live frugally (no newspaper subscription, no organics, no manicures, etc) whereas I bet the OP doesn't.

We go on beach vacations a handful of times each year (some local, some involving flights). We try to do long weekend trips at least a handful of times a year (mountains, lakes, cities). And we do a big trip (Disney, Caribbean, Europe) every 2-3 years.

Honestly, people piss away money so easily. It's not that hard to live well within your means and afford to travel.

I think what was really glossed over here was the fact that you don't have newspaper subscriptions. That really helps out a lot.

[Anonymous]

It's just one example, PP. I don't think the op is truly frugal. I'm frugal. I don't use $$$ shampoo either. I bet OP does. We haven't bought steak in years. That's frugal. I bet the real difference between the op and her counterparts with a similar income who aren't traveling as much is home furnishings. I know people who have invested tons of cash into home improvements and fancy furniture. And I also know people who leave their house as is and travel regularly. It's a question of prioritizing resources. And I stand by my comment that $300k HHI is big enough that regular traveling shouldn't be a stretch. Rather, it's typically the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting thread. What do you consider an expensive vacation? Personally I think it is a wonderful idea, but after the "mandatory" vacations to visit grandparents we don't have time or money left.

I'd change that and have it mandatory the grandparents spend their $$$ to visit you at least HALF the time.